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  • Tags: 1950s
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The Cinema Projectionist Archives hold a range of audio-visual resources documenting the working lives of cinema projectionists in Britain from the 1890s to the 2010s. Here you can find extracts from audio interviews with projectionists, videos, documents, magazine articles and possibly the world’s largest online collection of images of projection box. Navigate through the material by decade, theme, or type of material.
1950.07.13 - Rex, Intake.jpg

24/07/2019
Projection box of a Sheffield cinema in 1950. ​​Used with permission from Screen International.​​

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1950.09.29 - Beaufort, Washwood Heath.jpg

03/07/2019
Projection box of the Beaufort Cinema, Washwood Heath, Birmingham in 1950. Used with permission from Screen International.​​

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1950.06.15 - Regal, Caversham.jpg

03/07/2019
Projection box of the Regal, Caversham cinema in 1950. Used with permission from Screen International.​​

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1950.05.11 - Regal, Byker.jpg

03/07/2019
Projection box of a Newcastle cinema (in the Byker district) in 1950. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1950.01.12 - Odeon, Worcester.jpg

29/06/2019
Projectionists in the projection box of the Odeon in Worcester, which opened in 1950. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1950.06.01 - Regal, Edinburgh.jpg

29/06/2019
Chief projectionist and cinema manager inspecting the installation of new projectors at an Edinburgh cinema in 1950. Used with permission from Screen International.

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Kinematograph Weekly, 26 August 1948, p. 30

29/06/2019
Projectionists in the projection box of the Ritz, Leeds cinema in 1948. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1952.03.13 - State, Barkingside.jpg

29/06/2019
Chief projectionist in the projection box of an Essex cinema in 1952. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1952.05.15 - Waldorf, Sparkbrook.jpg

29/06/2019
Chief projectionist of the Waldorf Cinema in the Sparkbrook district of Birmingham in 1952. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1952.05.15 - Curzon, Mayfair.jpg

29/06/2019
The chief projectionist and second operator in the projection box of a London cinema in 1952. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1952.09.11 - New Victoria, Preston.jpg

29/06/2019
Three projectionists in the projection box of a Preston cinema in 1952. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1953.01.15 - Essoldo, Kilburn.jpg

29/06/2019
Projectionist in the projection box of a London cinema in 1953. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1953.12.03 - Gainsborough, Leeds.jpg

29/06/2019
Projectionist in projection box of the Gainsborough cinema, Leeds cinema in 1953. Used with permission from Screen International.

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1952.09.11 - Globe, Arborfield.jpg

26/06/2019
Pamela LeClerq, chief operator, and Mrs Fitzgerald, second operator at the Globe in Arborfield, one of the Army Kinematograph Corporation's chain of kinemas in 1952. Used with permission from Screen International.

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Projectomatic advert (1956.12.06).jpg

01/11/2017
An advert for a Projectomatic automated projection machine.

Used with permission from Screen International.

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Projection box - Royalty Cinema, Birmingham (1953)

05/10/2017
Photographs of the projection box at the A.B.C. Royalty cinema, Birmingham during the 1950s.

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p7.jpg

19/09/2017
Two members of the projection staff in the projection box at the Bristol Cinema, Birmingham in 1953.

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p62.jpg

19/09/2017
Photograph of the projectors in the projection box at the Orient Cinema, Birmingham in the early 1950s.

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p6.jpg

19/09/2017
A photograph of the projection room at the Piccadilly Cinema, Birmingham in 1952.

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p5.jpg

The photograph of the projection team in the box at the Royalty Cinema, Birmingham in 1954. Bill Pearson appears second from the right (with cat!).

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Joan Pearson in the projection room at the A.B.C. Orient cinema, Birmingham (1951)

19/09/2017
Joan Pearson in the projection room at the A.B.C. Orient cinema, Birmingham (1951)

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Bill Pearson - Ternhill (1951)

19/09/2017
A photograph of Bill Pearson projecting at R.A.F. Ternhill in 1951 whilst on National Service. Image © Joan and Bill Pearson

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film reel

22/03/2017
Projectionist Joan Pearson describes some of the work she was expected to do as a woman in projection. This included cleaning the canopy on the cinema roof and maintaining the boiler.

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film reel

21/03/2017
Projectionist Joan Pearson describes the process and problems of showing 3-D films.

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film reel

20/03/2017
Projectionist Florence Barton describes the work that she was expected to do around the cinema.

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film reel

20/03/2017
Projectionist Florence Barton describes getting the first Projectomatic automation machine in Coventry in the late 1950s. She also gives her unfavorable opinion of her male counterparts.

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film reel

09/12/2015
Projectionist and cinema manager Phil Fawke describes the separation of spaces in cinema projection rooms.

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film reel

09/12/2015
Projectionist and cinema manager Phil Fawke describes the process of changing-over a film including replacing the carbon rods in the arc lamps.

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film reel

09/12/2015
Projectionist and cinema manager Phil Fawke describes his morning routine and the process of cleaning the projection box.

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film reel

09/12/2015
Projectionist and cinema manager Phil Fawke describes the process of repairing film damage.

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film reel

09/12/2015
Projectionist and cinema manager Phil Fawke describes his experience of the arrival of digital projection, the changes in the number of projectionists over time, getting used to using the digital projector and the benefits of digital on picture…

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes a Welsh cinema with unconventional entry policies, comparing it so scenes from the comedy film The Smallest Show on Earth.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes his routine as a rewind boy.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes the process of rehearsing film to get them ready for screening.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes undertaking publicity activities, including borrowing an elephant from a visiting circus.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams provides an overview of presentation and showmanship in cinemas. He outlines how he was trained by the chief to uphold particular aesthetic standards and the impact that this has on the experience of the audience.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes the process of selecting music to be played in the auditorium prior to film screenings.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams discusses the impact of working routines on mealtimes.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes the process of making-up film prints ready for screening and breaking them down once finished.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes the other duties carried out by projectionists outside the projection box including an accident where he fell through the ceiling of the cinema auditorium during a film screening.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes the importance for projectionists’ work to be invisible.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes the impact of promotion on his relationships with other cinema workers.

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Feeling like a projectionist (Mike Williams).mp3

Projectionist Mike Williams describes the qualities required of a projectionist and the associated feelings that come with the job.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes his early experiences of cinema-going as a child, his developing fascination with cinemas and the atmosphere and smell of cinemas.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams tells the story of how he accidentally destroyed a print of A Woman in a Dressing Gown.

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film reel

04/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes his relationship with his chief projectionist at the ABC (Olympia) Cardiff, Frank Saunders.

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film reel

03/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams describes the projectionist’s duties when the film was on screen, noting the importance of checking films during screenings.

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film reel

01/12/2015
Projectionist Mike Williams explains the process of changing over from one projector to another between reels.

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